Cut-out for electric lamps



(No Model.)

0. F. COLEMAN 8: H. A. SMITH.

GUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Patented Dec. 12, 1882.

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UNITED STATES CHARLES F. COLEMAN AND HENRY A. SMITH, OF ATLANTA,GEORGIA.

CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRlC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,013, dated December12, 1685.,

Application filed October 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all zrhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES F. Comm AN and HENRY A. SMITH. bothot'Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have inventeda new and Improved Out-Out for Electric Lamps,ot' which thefollowingis afull, clear, and exact description.

Our invention consists in an improved cutout for systems of electriclighting employing either are or incandescent lamps.

The object of the invention is to avoid the liability of warping and theburning of the cutout and connecting wires, which is a great 0bjectionto cut-outs as heretofore made. In our improved device we cut out thelamps without breaking the cirouit,so that the current has a continuousunbroken connection without the aid of s rings or switches to convey thecurrent, as setforth more particularly hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan view of our improved cutout. Fig. 2 is a plan viewwith certain parts removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 0000, Fig. 1.Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the turning-block by which thecurrent is shifted.

In the drawings, the cut-out is shown as applied to a suitable base,which may be attached upon the outside of a building or in any otherconvenient situation; but it is to be understood that the cut-out may bemade a part of the inclosing box or case of the lamp, thus reducing thecost of construction.

Referring to the drawings, A is the base, of wood or other suitablematerial, and upon this are secured metal bars or strips B, which areplaced radiating from the center of the base, and upon the outer end ofthese bars B are binding-posts a. The inner ends of the bars B, at thecenter of the base, are not in connection with each other, but areseparated asnitable distance apart. v

Upon a pivot-post, O, at the center of the base A, is a block, D, ofwood or other suitable non-conducting material, the bottom of which isenlarged in the form of a square plate of a size for extending over theends of the metallic bars B. To the under side of the 'quired to insurecontact. justable by means ot'nut 2'.

said block 1) are fixed two metallic plates, E, parallel with each otherand in position for connecting the ends of the bars B.

Upon the ciicular portion of the block D is a coil-spring, F, one end ofwhich connects with the block, while the other end is connected to afixed piece or stud, d, on the base A. On the outer end of post 0,beneath a head or out, i, thereon, is a spring, H, which bears on blockI), to press the same down with the force re- The pressure is ad- Thebloclt is loose upon the pivot-pin 0, so that it can be turned, and itis provided at one side with a projecting pin, 1), which is used inconnection with a catch, 0, on the base, for holding the block in itsnormal position,in which position the spring F is brought under tension,so that when the catch a is raised the block will be thrown around aquarter-revolution until arrested by the pin 1) taking against the fixedpiece (I.

The line-wires are to be connected to two oi the binding-posts a, asshown at m 112, while the circuit-wires n to the lamp are to beconnected to the other two binding-posts. In the position of the blockD, as shown in Fig. l, the two metallic plates E connect the. total barsB in such a manner thattheincomingcurrent, as shown by the arrows, iscarricd across by one plateE to one ofthe bars B in thelampcircuit, andfrom thence passes to the lamp represented at H to the other bar B inthe lamp-circuit, and thence by the other plate It to the bar B, that isconnected with the outgoing line-wire. lVhen it is desired to cut outthe lamp the catch 0 is to be pressed down, and the block D, being thusreleased, is turned a quarter-revolution by the spring F, so that theplates E connect the two bars B B, to which the line-wires areconnected, thus cutting out the lamp without breaking the main circuit.

It willbe seen that there are no parts liable to become warped, andthere being no period of time in which the circuitis broken, and,further, the conducting-surfaces being ample for the current, there canbe no spark or any liability of the parts becoming burned.

The turning-block may be provided with a handle for use in turning thesame to its norm al position.

to the under side of said block, and the spring F, connected at one endwith stud (Z and at the other with block D, whereby in the cut-out thecircuit is rendered continuous without the aid of springs or switches,as described.

CHARLES F. UOLEMAN. HEJRY A. SMITH.

Witnesses E. S. GRINNELL, SAML. STOCKING.

